Once again, the Forbes list of the world's 100 most powerful women is topped by Angela Merkel, the current chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Holding first place on this list for the third year in a row, Merkel has dominated this list as the leader of one of the world's major economic forces.
The only other woman to perform so well on the list over successive years is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Hillary Clinton's prospects fell when she failed to obtain the presidency in the 2008 election, but rose again when she was appointed to Rice's post.
Also on the list is Margaret Chan, who lives and works in German-speaking Switzerland; of Chinese and Canadian extraction, she made Switzerland her new home when she was appointed to be the director the World Health Organization. The ability to read and write German is central to her office.
